Authentic Voices. Important Topics.

Debbie Almontaser
Educator, Inter-Faith Community Builder

Debbie Almontaser is the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, New York.

The first public school focused on Arabic language and culture in the United States, the school became the focus of controversy months before it opened when opponents began a media onslaught accusing the school of "imbuing pan-Arabism and anti-Zionism, proselytizing for Islam, and promoting Islamist sympathies".

Despite her long history of work with interfaith and interethnic projects, Almontaser was targeted by fear-mongerers who accused her of harboring a secret radical agenda and sympathizing with terrorists. A few weeks before the schools' opening, Almontaser was forced to resign. She is now suing the city of New York for the violation of her first amendment constitutional rights.

Almontaser is turning this obstacle in her life into an opportunity to educate Americans about the overt racism that continues to plague this country through her personal experience as an Arab-American, a Muslim, and a woman.

A 17-year veteran of the NYC public school system, Debbie Almontaser has taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Ms. Almontaser frequently lectures and facilitates workshops on conflict resolution, interfaith outreach, Arab culture, and Islam.

Diversity as the American Dream

Growing up, Debbie Almontaser sometimes felt like she had to hide her identity as a Muslim and an Arab. When she moved to New York City and experienced the vibrant diversity of its different populations, she realized that she didn't have to give up her identity to fit in.

She could be authentic about herself and be a part of the community, valuing and celebrating the differences among us instead of trying to erase them in the name of assimilation. The United States is one of the most diverse countries in the world, welcoming people from all walks of life. As a country of immigrants, valuing and celebrating diversity must be a priority in our educational system. Each student must be welcomed and accepted regardless of his/her racial, ethnic or religious background if we are to develop globally conscious citizens who see themselves apart of a bigger world and value civic and global participation.

About Debbie Almontaser

"Community educator extraordinaire, veteran Muslim-Jewish dialoguer, committed patriot, passionate and articulate speaker, Debbie Almontaser should be heard be every community: Christians, Jews, and Muslims alike. I count Debbie Almontaser as one of my rabbis; her deep experience and wisdom is for all of us imbibe."

Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky
Jewish Theological Seminary

"Debbie Almontaser is an important voice that we need to listen to. She speaks with clarity, vision, and penetrating understanding."

The Very Rev Dr. Ian Markham
Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary

"Debbie Almontaser has spoken at the Museum of the City of New York on several occasions, and each time she has been concise and to the point in her presentation, patient and unflappable in response to audience questions, and of real value as a program participant."

Kathleen Benson
Project Director, Exhibitions and Publications
Museum of the City of New York

"Debbie is a calm, clear, articulate, and inviting speaker. She crosses boundaries and welcomes her listeners, and she honors them with wide knowledge and deep reflection. I know this from her having addressed our congregation from the pulpit on a Sunday morning. She doesn't just bring people together, she helps them move forward together."

Rev. Dr. Daniel Meeter
Old First Reformed Church, Brooklyn

"I have had the opportunity to experience Debbie's presentation skills in settings both in this country and overseas. She has always been a voice of calm and reason, embracing differences that cross lines of faith and culture and seeking human-centered solutions to problems that can seem intractable. She is an articulate and attractive presence, deeply knowledgeable of her subject matter and yet able to convey complex and highly nuanced issues in ways that are accessible and engaging for a variety of audiences."

Rev. Robert Chase
Founding Director Intersections International

"Deborah Almontaser, founding principal of the Kahlil Gibran International Academy, spoke at an April 3-4 conference at NYU, 'Academic Freedom in the Age of Permanent Warfare.' She was one of the lead speakers on a panel on High Schools. She spoke eloquently about her experience at the Kahlil Gibran Academy and related her story to the larger issues of academic freedom and civil liberties and how our freedoms have been eroded by the 'War on Terror.' Even though Ms. Almontaser spoke at the end of the day, she captivated the audience and afterward many told me that her presentation was the highlight of the conference and that her presentation should have been scheduled for the morning when we had a larger audience. Ms. Almontaser is a very well prepared and engaging speaker, she is able to relate her story to very broad questions about law and society, politics and academic freedom, and the future direction of public education."

Michael Nash
Director, Tamiment Library, New York University
Co-director, Frederic Ewen Academic Freedom Center

To book this speaker, call (206) 529-4711 or email info@samaralectures.com